South Korean Authorities Halt Arrest Attempt of Impeached President After Standoff

Friday 03 January 2025 - 08:33

South Korean authorities have paused an effort to arrest impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol following a prolonged standoff with his security team at his residence in central Seoul. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) announced the suspension after investigators faced resistance from the Presidential Security Service (PSS), which blocked their entry into Yoon's compound.

CIO officials cited the ongoing standoff as the reason for halting the arrest operation, emphasizing safety concerns for those involved. Investigators had arrived early on Friday to detain Yoon as part of an investigation into accusations of insurrection and abuse of power related to his brief declaration of martial law on December 3. This incident led to a significant political crisis in South Korea.

Yoon’s security team, led by PSS chief Park Jong-joon, refused to allow access, citing military-related confidentiality restrictions. A significant number of PSS personnel and additional soldiers formed human chains to block investigators, outnumbering the CIO and police forces.

Speculation regarding Yoon’s potential arrest escalated after a Seoul court approved an arrest warrant earlier this week, valid until January 6. If detained, Yoon would face a short detention period of 48 hours before investigators must decide whether to seek a formal detention warrant or release him. Previously, his security team had blocked multiple search warrants issued against the president.

Should Yoon be arrested, he would become the first sitting president in South Korean history to face detention. Before the CIO's announcement, Yoon’s lawyer contested the legality of the investigators' actions, asserting they were operating beyond their authority. The interim leader of Yoon’s political party supported the suspension, calling for an investigation without arresting Yoon.

Meanwhile, South Korea’s opposition party called for the acting president to intervene and prevent further conflict between pro- and anti-Yoon demonstrators. Yoon’s supporters, rallying outside his residence in freezing conditions, have demanded an end to the investigation and the reversal of his impeachment.

Authorities have deployed significant security measures, including around 2,700 police officers, to manage tensions in the area. Should Yoon be found guilty of insurrection, a crime that does not offer presidential immunity, he faces severe penalties, including life imprisonment or even the death penalty.

Since his impeachment on December 14, Yoon has been suspended from office. The National Assembly's decision followed a vote of 204-85, while his replacement, Han Duck-soo, was impeached shortly after for failing to fill vacancies on the Constitutional Court, which will decide whether to uphold or reverse the impeachment. The court has up to six months to make its final ruling.